Nepal created history by beating the West Indies 2-0 in a three-match T20 series which was held in Sharjah. Nepal secured their first ever bilateral series win over a full ICC member.
The match was played between September 27 to 29, the glory is being praised as one of the biggest milestones in Nepal’s cricketing history. The last match of the series is scheduled on 30 September.
A Breakthrough Series
The cricketing world was shocked by Nepal’s first T20I against West Indies, beating West Indies by 19 runs. The triumph was noteworthy, it was Nepal’s maiden win over a Test-playing nation. The second match was more impressive, batting first Nepal posted 173/6 with help of Aasif Sheikh’s unbeaten 68 and Sundeep Jora’s quick 63 from 39 balls.
The West Indies were facing a target that should have been easily manageable for them, they collapsed in just 83 runs in 17.1 overs. The 90-run defeat was Nepal’s biggest-ever T20I win and also the largest win margin by an Associate team against a Full Member. West Indies, the two times World Cup champions had no response to Nepal’s tight and disciplined bowling unit.
Heroes of the Victory
Nepal’s bowlers grabbed the spotlight. Aadil Ansari returned with figures of 4/24, while Kushal Bhurtel chipped in with 3/16, tearing through the Windies batting order. Fielding, often Nepal’s weak link in past matches, was sharp and decisive this time.
Earlier, the 100-run partnership between Sheikh and Jora gave Nepal the comfort to attack confidently with the ball. Captain Rohit Paudel, Although he couldn’t score many runs, praised his team for their efforts: “We are very happy. It took a lot to win one game against a Test-playing country, and two days later we are winning a series, we feel really proud,” Paudel said.
He complimented his batters, especially Aasif Sheikh and Sundeep Jora, for setting the platform with a century partnership. “It was very important the way Aasif and Jora played. The way Jora accelerated really helped Aasif. That partnership gave us the cushion we needed.”
Paudel also highlighted the bowlers’ effort, crediting their discipline in the opening overs. “Today we improved a lot in the bowling department, especially the way we started in the powerplay. That made a big difference.”
Paudel also spoke about Nepal’s rising ambitions and goals on the international stage. “A lot of eyes are on Nepal right now. We want to continue this momentum and play more series against Test-playing nations. The motivation is there to finish this one on a high with a clean sweep. If we do that, we can carry the momentum into the qualifiers, because our big goal is to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.”
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Records Broken
- First-ever bilateral series win for Nepal over a Full Member nation.
- West Indies’ lowest total against an Associate side in T20Is.
- Nepal’s biggest win margin in T20 internationals (90 runs).
Impact on World Cup Qualification
While the series win has boosted Nepal’s international standing, it does not automatically alter their path to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. World Cup spots are determined through the ICC’s structured qualifying events, not bilateral results.
Nepal will be playing in the Asia-East Asia-Pacific Regional Final which is held in Oman on October 8 to17 2025. Nine teams will be competing for three spots in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Nepal’s strong confidence and performance from this series could be very crucial for their qualification. The win might boost Nepal’s ICC T20I rankings, which could help them in future seedings.
Conclusion
For Nepal this series win is more than just a victory, it proves their rise on the world stage. From underdogs to strong contenders, they have shown that belief, skill, and discipline can overcome the best.
If they carry this momentum into the World Cup qualifiers, Nepal could emerge as serious challengers in 2026. For now, celebrations in Sharjah and Kathmandu mark a historic moment for the nation.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
